What is everyone's thoughts on hammocks? After going on our teen backpacking trip, I decide to purchase one myself. Two of our TLTs borrowed some from a classmate, and used them instead of tents! I thought it was a novel idea, but not overly practical. But I have since determined that once you get used to them and figure them out, they actually have some serious benefits!
Space Saving - The girls hung one right above the other.
Light - Mine is 21 oz.
Location - Can be hung on a hillside, over rocks and roots, even over a stream!
Comfortably - This one is kind of questionable. I think you have to get used to it. I am a stomach and side sleeper. Note - If you sleep diagonal, with the proper sag (don't make a taut hammock) you can actually lay close to flat. Also form fitting, no terrible pressure points.
Practical - Can cook from your hammock. Imagine a rainy morning. You just lean out over your hammock and cook comfortably under you rain tarp while all your tenting friends are sitting miserably in the rain trying to cook. Eventually you invite them to cook under your tarp.
Fun - Without a doubt there is something novel about having a hammock on a campout just to hang out in (get it?). And the good ones are two person, or in my case, as many as you want up to 350 lbs.

I still need to figure out some good ideas for winter camping. A disadvantage (or advantage) to a hammock is that it is tremendously cooler than sleeping on the ground.

I haven't been in a hammock in years, but the only time I spent more than 15 minutes in one, I got out with a sore back. Plus it's ALWAYS cold here in New England when we camp with Pathfinders, so we want all the warmth we can get.

_________________Jim Thomas
The sooner you get behind, the more time you have to catch up.

I think hammocks have their positive and negative sides. We once had - as an activity in our pathfinder unit - to make our own hammock - made with knots almost like fishing nets, but some thicker string of course. It was a fine activity, and I used the hammock later on.
But - as Jim says - it is cold. You have no insulation from underneath and you will need a warm night, if you want to sleep and not freeze. But for an afternoon nap a warm summer day it will be fine - even here in Norway.
But as a physical therapist I must say, too, that it is no physological way to place a grown up body or teenager - only unborn babies are curved like that!

I think that hammocks are cool! I don't actually own one, but I have had a few people let me try theirs. I am thinking about getting one however, so I will be sure to check out the links that you posted crazy acorn! As far as winter goes, if it gets too cold, I might suggest that you simply just sleep on the ground.

_________________“When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze”
Isaiah 43:1-3

Well... someone very near and dear to me just bought me one of the ENO double nest hammocks for an early birthday present... Can't wait till it gets here!

_________________“When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze”
Isaiah 43:1-3

I've been thinking of buying a hammock. Although.... I've heard that it can mess up your back --or atleast make it sore. What's your take on this? Knowing people with back problems, I'm wondering if it would hurt their backs by them using a hammock?

The first couple times I have slept in mine I have gotten a little sore. I think though that it takes some practice to create the perfect sag for a particular individual. With the perfect sag, someone can then sleep diagonally in the hammock, which then makes them sleep pretty much flat across. This means that someone could also sleep on their side or stomach. As far as back problems go, I don't know how much support is needed, but I think that again, this could be resolved with the sag in the hammock.

Congrats Rider! I know you will enjoy it very much!

_________________Not all those who wander are lost... J. R. R. Tolkien